Salman Khan is back in the game, and this time, he’s got a new release date for his upcoming film, Sikander. The movie is set to hit theaters on the last Sunday of this month, just a day or two before Eid. But will this timing affect the film’s box office performance?
Industry experts think so. Salman’s fans usually flock to theaters on Eid to catch his movies. However, if the film releases before Eid, it might not get the same enthusiastic response. For instance, his 2023 Eid release, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, made only 15 crore on its first day, which is relatively low for a Salman Khan movie.
In contrast, his 2019 Eid release, Bharat, made 42 crore on its opening day. Even his previous Eid releases, like Race 3 and Tubelight, did better on their first day, with 29 crore and 21 crore, respectively.
So, what’s the strategy behind releasing Sikander before Eid? Producer and film business analyst Girish Johar thinks it might not be the best move. “Salman is returning to the Eid weekend after a long time, and everyone in the industry is hoping his film does well,” he says. “But releasing it a day or two before Eid might affect its box office performance. If Eid falls on a Monday or Tuesday, his hardcore fans might not make it to the theaters on time.”
The film’s trailer hasn’t been released yet, so there’s still some suspense around it. Maybe the producers have a plan to make up for the lost time. One thing’s for sure, though – with Sunny Deol’s Jatt releasing two weeks after Sikander, Salman’s film will have to make the most of its limited time.
Here’s a quick look at Salman’s previous Eid releases and their first-day earnings:
- Tubelight: 21 crore
- Race 3: 29 crore
- Bharat: 42 crore
- Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan: 15 crore
It’s going to be an interesting few weeks at the box office. Will Sikander live up to Salman’s Eid release expectations, or will it falter? Only time will tell.
